, 1887-07-21
MARRIAGE IN INDIA.
PoLYGAMY AND OTHER CUSTOMS
AMONG THE HINDOOS.

Jured by he English Educated Natives.
No Domestic Peace for the PoIygamist.
Statistics of Marriage.
PolyganIy is an old institution in India.
III the ancient times polygamy was the
general rule, and monogany the exception.
Hindoo law givers advised ~polygamy and
sanctioned every man to take as many wives
as he could afford. During the Moslem domi-
nation the custom received a fresh impetus,
owing to the Mohammedans following the
same practice. When the English conquered
the country pOlygamy was rampant in the
land, but when English education was in
troduced and it began to exercise a civilizing
effect on the minds Of the people, the custom
received "A rude shock, though not a death
blow.
By the English educated men the custom
has been almost entirely abjWred. One can
scarcely meet an Indian who has received an
education in some of the Indian universities
h.dulging in the barbarous and unnatural
habit of taking more than one wife. Almost
every educated Indian thinks polygamy a
foolishness, a barbarity, n sin. But the
number Of educated men in India is even now
very limited. India has a vast population of
253, 600, 900, and of these about 100000 at
the utmost can boast of universal education
of any value. Among the uneducated polyg-
amy is still prevalent, but not to a wide eX-
tent. The last census Is defective, inasmuch
as it does not give the number of males who
possess more than one wife. But it can be
safely asserted that about one-eighth of the
male population of India are observers of the
custom of %polygamy.
EXTENT OF d.
About fifteen years ago n private attempt
was made in n certain district in Bengal to
find out to what extent did ~polygamy prevail
among the better classes Of the community.
The inquiry was almost thorough, and the re
suit was interesting. 1t was discovered that
about 1000 men had two wives, about 700
three, about 400 four, about 100 from five to
six, sixty men had from seven to ten, and
one man forty. But this was fifteen years
ago, and fifteen years in these days of transi-
ton makes a great difference. 1 may conf
IDENTIFY assert that at the present moment
there is scarcely a single person, excepting
the petty rnjahs, of course, who has got so
many us forty wives. The number of men
having three wives is now considerably less
than ten years ago. The number of hus-
bands of two wives, 1t must be remarked,
does not seem to have decreased greatly. The
cause of this is that the Hindoo, having a
belief that dying without issue is peculiarly
unfortunate, is obliged to take q second wife
when ho has no children by the first. Again,
one would marry a second time owing to
differences with his first wife, or if she be not
according to his liking, or IL suffering from
some incurable disease.
The effects of tho custom are no doubt in
furious to the physical and moral well being
OF the persons concerned, and to that of the
community to which they belong. Besides,
there is no domestic peace for the man who
commits tho folly of taking unto himself two
or moro wives. No agreement of feelings is
cup. eepn among tho women who claim Ona
man as their husband. Perpetual discord
reigns among them, making life to their I'M
happy husbands simply intolerable. Love
potions, often containing substances d~eleteri-
Gus to health, are not unknown in India, and
many Hindoo wives of polygamous husbands
nre known to have administered them to
their lords to test their love. Numerous in
stances have happened in which the potion,
instead of proving the husbands love, has
proved its potency in putting q speedy end to
his life. Conjugal felicity is completely I'M
known to the husband Of several wives. But
It must be mentioned that there are cases of
exception, in which the husband is fortunate
enough to SEQ oil his wives contented with
their lot, all loving him with equal warmth,
and all endeavoring to secure his happiness.
OF THE CUSTOM.
The general attitude toward the custom,
though not decidedly antagonistic, is one Of
adherence. About fifteen years ago an ugi-
tation was raised by q distinguished Hindoo
savant in order to have a law passed by gov
ernment making bigamy q crime. Many per-
sons Joined tho agitation md made great en-
deavors to have the good object accom-
plished. But rs the opinions of Hindu law
givers were not oil opposed to polygamy, and
as q party, though small, organized a counter
agitation, the government could take no
steps. The present general opinion is that
there is no use of legislative interference, as
the custom is gradually dying out, owing to
the spread of English education among the
people. To my mind, the general opinion on
the subject is quite reasonable.
There Is not one, but many marriage GUS
toms in India The Hindoos are divided
chiefly into three great sects, but there airs
many sub-sects, and the marriage customs of
these sects and sub-sects, although agreeing
in the main, differ in many particulars. Be-
sides the Hindoos there are Buddhists, Janis,
Sikhs, Mohammedans and aborigines in In
dia, and the marriage customs of all these re-
ligious denominations greatly differ. Among
the a~borigines, again, there are several dis
tinct rites, and their marriage rites do not re-
semble each other except in some ~insignin-
cant particulars.
According TO the latest census, which was
taken in 1881, there are 54,240,0S5 married
males and 81, SIS, 800 married females; $685.
$50 widowers and 20,S72,6 sos widows; while
there are 81, 21S,624 single males and 36,O49,-
1888 single fe~males.-Deoghur Qndia) Cor.
New Orleans Times-Democrat.